Practising art, as a child or as an adult,
is a joyous activity that awakens our senses in the rest of our
day-to-day life. A few of us may eventually become working artists.
But there are many more benefits to be gained doing art.

self-esteem

manual dexterity & physical
co-ordination

organization

self-discipline

creativity

risk-taking

problem-solving &
decision-making

visualization & planning

spontaneity &
responsiveness

a personal aesthetic

relaxation

communication

emotional expression

respect for the individuality of others . .
. and oneself

What you say to your kids about art can
either reinforce these goals . . . or undermine them dreadfully.
Who doesn't remember some devastating experience-in grade two,
perhaps with a well-meaning adult who "corrected" your painting
because "trees have to be green, dear"?

"Right" or "Wrong" applies only to the
use of tools & materials, not to the artwork or subject
matter.

Creative folks try to practice divergent
thinking (where we get lots of different answers and ideas)
instead of convergent thinking (where we're trying to
conform by arriving at the one correct answer). It's usually a
good thing when your kids' paintings don't look like any of the
others in the class.
P.S. Give them more blank paper, fewer colouring
books.

Focus on the process, not the
product.

What you're trying to do is feed back their
explorations to them--being neither too critical nor too gushy--and
leave lots of room in the conversation for them to talk, too. What
they think about their artwork is more important than what you or I
think.
What you're trying not to do is impose adult standards on
kids' work. You probably know, from your own childhood experience,
that the most crushing thing you can say is "What is
it?"

Let your kids decide which works are
the best for display.

Sure, you may save everything (dated) in a
box so you can look back on their progress, but you obviously can't
show it all off. The latest work can go on the fridge door. Then
buy a clip frame (easy to change the artwork) and encourage your
kids to select their favourite of the month to decorate the front
hall. Doing art is one of the only opportunities kids have in their
week to exercise, explore & develop their own judgement.
At the easel, they're in charge of what's right, what's
best, what's next. Instead of learning & conforming to an
external adult standard of excellence, they're discovering their
own.

Don't over-praise.

If you gush all the time, your kids stop
valuing your praise and may eventually doubt that anything they do
is praiseworthy.

Praise them for doing, not
being.

Focus your praise on the work accomplished,
not on your kids' innate brilliance. ("What a great idea!" or "You
really worked hard on this painting!" rather than "You're so
clever.") Get it? Kids who are rewarded for "doing" (working hard
& making progress) continue to thrive. Kids who are
congratulated for "being" smart--or artistic or imaginative--often
start playing it safe to protect their image.

M y own parents never studied art or teaching.
(My mother says she was actually excused from grade five art
because it was too damaging to her self-esteem.) But Mummy always
got the movers to leave behind big heaps of the blank newsprint
paper they used to wrap our dishes, and she never bought me
colouring books. Daddy said, "Of course you can learn to run a
jigsaw" and everybody said it was okay to get dirty. I thank them
every chance I get.

The pig is a working art studio in Waterloo, Ontario [Canada]
where you'll find me, Linda Carson (the person behind the pig),
offering art lessons privately and
for small groups.

For the latest snail-mailing on course
offerings at the pig, call 519-884-7355 and leave a cheery message
(including your name and your complete mailing address). The pig is
not a prompt e-correspondent.